# C_2007272EN.01002301.xml

| 15.11.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 272/23 |
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15.11.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 272/23

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.4883 — PetroFina/Galactic/Futerro JV)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/C 272/11)

| 1. | On 9 November 2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings PetroFina S.A./N.V. (‘PetroFina’, Belgium) belonging to the Total group (‘Total’, France) and Galactic S.A./N.V. ultimately controlled by Finasucre S.A. (‘Finasucre’, Belgium) and Frederic van Gansberghe S.A./N.V. (‘FVG’, Belgium) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Futerro S.A./N.V. (‘Futerro’, Belgium) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 9 November 2007, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertakings PetroFina S.A./N.V. (‘PetroFina’, Belgium) belonging to the Total group (‘Total’, France) and Galactic S.A./N.V. ultimately controlled by Finasucre S.A. (‘Finasucre’, Belgium) and Frederic van Gansberghe S.A./N.V. (‘FVG’, Belgium) acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Futerro S.A./N.V. (‘Futerro’, Belgium) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | PetroFina: manufacture and sale of base chemicals as well as commodity polymers, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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PetroFina: manufacture and sale of base chemicals as well as commodity polymers,

| — | Total: vertically-integrated energy and chemical company, |
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Total: vertically-integrated energy and chemical company,

| — | Galactic: manufacture and sale of lactic acid and its salts and esters (lactates), |
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Galactic: manufacture and sale of lactic acid and its salts and esters (lactates),

| — | Finasucre: manufacture and sale of sugar from cane and beet as well as caramels and specialities, |
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Finasucre: manufacture and sale of sugar from cane and beet as well as caramels and specialities,

| — | FVG: counsel and management services. |
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FVG: counsel and management services.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4883 — PetroFina/Galactic/Futerro JV, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.4883 — PetroFina/Galactic/Futerro JV, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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